Expert: Steve L - 8/9/2004

Question
Hi--

I noticed (on http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stl/stats/stl_sortable_player_stats....)that a player names Marcus (I think) has a higher batting average than on base percentage.

Had this been the only example, I would have assumed it to be an error. But I have seen this elsewhere.

How can a batting average be hogher than an on base percentage?

Many thanks,
nighttrain@nyc.rr.com

Answer
I think you'll find that almost EVERY player has a higher On Base percentage than Batting Average.

Batting Average counts only Hits, while On Base percentage includes not only hits, but Walks and Hit by Pitcher.

So since there are more ways than Hits that a player can reach base, the On Base Percentage is almost always higher.